OBITUARY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 28 April 1937, Page 4

OBITUARY

MR WALTER R. G. COLT The death occurred in Perth, Western Australia, recently, of Mr Walter Raleigh Gilbert Colt, at the age of 80 years 9 months. The late Mr Colt was born at Gartsherrie, Lanarkshire, Scotland, in 1956, and spent the first few years of his life in India, where his father was Captain of the 3rd King’s Own Light Dragoons. Owing to ill health, Captain Colt retired at an early age, and with his wife—who was a daughter of Sir Walter Raleigh Gilbert —and family, came to New Zealand, and settled at Brightwater, first at Mt. Heslington, and later when Captain Colt died In 1867, Mrs Colt acquired “Kodah." Mr Colt was educated at Nelson College, and on leaving school went to Queensland where he was “jackarooing” for a time. Later he went up into the Gulf country and Northern Territory where he managed various cattle stations. It was a very lonely life, and he was often the only white man. There was usually a Chinaman cook, and with the exception of the station boys, the natives were bad at times. On two occasions Mr Colt was speared, and carried the scars of the wounds to bis death. About 35 years ago he left the Northern Territory and went to West Australia, where he managed Streeten and Males cattle station, out of Broome, for many years.

Mr Colt leaves a widow, formerly Miss Eugenie Bunny, of Nelson, and three daughters, Misses Betty and Peggy Colt of Perth, and Nancy (Mrs Leslie Mulligan) of Invercargill.